Tank-alarm.



I. J. STUKEL.

TANK ALARM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1915.

1 ,1 85, 1 44. Patented May 30, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET J. J. STUKEL.

TANK ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9.19:5.

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TANK-ALARM.

Application filed April 9, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. S'rUKnL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lanrium, in the county of Houghton and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tank- Alarms; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to gasolene tank alarms, designed moreparticularly for indicating the height of gasolene in a tank supportupon an auto vehicle, and one of the principal objects of the inventionis to provide reliable and eflicient means for indicating the height ofgasolene in the supply tank of an automobile in such manner that thechauffeur may know when the gasolene is nearly run out, said alarmflashing a white light, and later a red light, and finally sounding abell when the gasolene has reached a low level in the tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm for a supplygasolene tank for auto vehicles, said alarm comprising float and a.series of contacts which will display a small white light first, a redlight after a short interval, and will sound a bell as an alarm when thegasolene is nearly exhausted, thus indicating to the chauffeur thecondition of the supply tank at all times.

The foregoing and other objects may be attained by means of theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a vertical sectional view taken through a gas tank and shown brokenaway centrally, said tank having an alarm connected thereto and made inaccordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe contacts and the float rod pivoted to a cap or plug fitted in thetop of the gasolene tank, the float rod being shown broken away, Fig. 3is a detail sectional view showing the spring contacts connected to apiece of insulating material attached to the end of the float rod, thelatter being pivoted to the spaced contact points, Fig. 4 is a detailhorizontal sectional view of one pair of the contact plates, and Fig. 5is a diagrammatic view of the electrical connections to the white andred lights and to the bell.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Serial No. 20,243.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1. designates the gasolene tankprovided with a filling cap 2. Fitted in the top of the tank is acontact support 8 in the form of a cap or plug screw threaded exteriorlyto fit the threaded flange 4; in the top of the tank. The support 3 isprovided with inturned flanges 5, and supported on said flanges arespaced fibrous non-conducting elements 6, each provided with a curvedupper edge 7 and in said edge are notches 8, 9, and 10. The elements 6are connected together by cross members 11 and 12. A float rod 13, towhich a hollow float 14 is connected at its lower end is pivoted upon arod 15 mounted in bearings 16 attached to the undersides of the elements(3. At the upper end of the float rod 13 is a piece of insulation 17having connected thereto at the opposite sides thereof spring contacts18. Connected to the supporting elements 6 at opposite sides of thenotch 10 are spring contacts 19. In the notch 9 are similar springcontacts 20, and in the notch 8 are spring contacts 21.

Mounted on the dash board 22 or some other suitable or convenient pointis a plate 23 having a bell 21 connected thereto, and at opposite sidesof the bell are a red globe or bulb 25 and a white globe or bull) 26.Connecting wire (4 leads from one of the contacts 19 to the white light26 and connector a from white light to battery B. Connector a leads fromthe battery to the other contact 19. Connector 7) leads from one of thecontacts 20 to red light 25 and connector b to battery B, and byconnector 5 from battery to the other contact 20. The bell circuit leadsfrom contacts 21 to bell 2 1 through wire 0 and conductor 0 leads fromcontact 21 to battery B, and through battery by conductor 0 to hell 24.A piece of fabric 26 is connected to the support 3, and the float rod 13is extended through the fabric, as shown in Fig. 2, said fabric servingto keep the gasolene out of the way of the contact elements.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: Whenthe tank 1 is filled to the desired height, the float 14: is thrown tothe left in Fig. 1 and the spring contacts 18 are moved. into contactwith the spring connectors 19. Then the gasolene is running low in thetank, the spring contacts 18 are moved to contact with the springmembers 20 which light up the red bulb 25. When the contacts 18 are inthe notch 10 and in contact with the springs 19, the white light 26 islighted. hen the float rod is nearly in a vertical position and thegasolene is nearly exhausted from the tank, the contacts 18 are in theupper notch 8 and contact with the springs 21 to ring the bell Asuitable switch may be conveniently located for switching out the bell.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the driver of an automobileprovided with the tank alarm will be notified by the white light thatthere is a given quantity of gasolcne in the tank, and when the redlight is llashed the gasolene is running low. When the bell 2% rings, itgives the alarm that the gasolene is practically exhausted from thetank.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theclaims.

What is claimed is 1. A. gasolene tank alarm comprising a support fittedin the top of the gasolene tank, non-conducting elements carried by saidsupport, spring contacts at three points on said elements, a float rod,contact points connected to the upper end of said rod, a lloat securedto the lower end of said rod, a white light, a red light, a bell, andelectrical connections between the spring contacts, the white light, thered light, and the bell for notifying the driver as to the condition ofthe gasolenc in the tank.

A gasolene tank alarm comprising a support fitted in the top of thegasolene tank, relatively spaced non-conducting elements carried by saidsupport, spring contacts at three points on each of said ele ments, ati'loat rod pivoted to swing between said elements, contact pointsconnected to the upper end of said rod, a lloat secured to the lower endof said rod, a white light, a red light, a. bell, and electricalconnections between the spring contacts, the white light, the red light,and the bell to indicate the height of gasolene in the tank.

3. iii gasolene tank alarm comprising a hollow support fitted in the topof the gasolene tank, a pair of relatively spaced nonconducting elementsfixed within the support, relatively spaced spring contacts carried bysaid elements, a l'loat rod pivoted to said elements, contact pointsconnected to the upper end of said rod, a float secured to the lower endof said rod, electric circuits including said spring contacts and asource of current, and signaling means arranged in said circuits.

*1. A gasolene tank alarm comprising a hollow plug fitted in one wall ofthe tank, said plug having an opening in its bottom wall, an electricswitch mounted within the plug, Z. pivoted switch operating rod havingone end extending from the plug through the opening therein, a floatsecured to the outer end of said rod, and a flexible member extendingacross the opening in the plug to prevent gasolene from coming incontact with the switch, said rod passing through said member. 7

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JGHN J. S'IUKEL.

lVitnesses FRANK Pnan'rz, Josnrn W. Sonrznnnna.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 62' Patents. Washington, D. 8.

